Printing press



1964 R. L. MOSEMILLER 3,157,118

PRINTING PRESS Filed July 2, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Robert L.Mosemiller 1954 R. L. MOSEMILLER 3, 57, 8

PRINTING PRESS Filed July 2, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Robert L. Mosemiller United States Patent Ofifice 3,l57,1l8 Patented Nov. 17, 1964 3,157,118 PRINTENG PRESS Robert L- Moserniller, Wilhinshurg, Pa assignor to Miller Printing Machinery $0., Pittshurgh, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed .luly 2, M62, Ser. No. 206,936 1t; @lairns. (til. 101-447) This invention relates to a printing press having a rotary printing form and especially to means for retracting and returning to normal position form rollers of an inker applying ink to the rotary printing form of the press.

When a rotary printing form is applied to a form cylinder the form does not cover the entire 360 of the form cylinder but leaves a so-called gap which is a portion of the form cylinder not covered by the form which extends between the trailing edge of the form and the leading edge of the form. The gap may occupy a substantial segment of the surface of the form cylinder ranging from a few degrees to as much as 45 or more.

Ink is applied to the forrh by an inker consisting of ink fountain means and rollers conveying ink from the ink fountain means and applying the ink to' the form. The final ink applying rollers which receive the ink from the intermediate rollers and apply it to the forrnby direct contact with the form. are called form rollers. There may be any number of form rollers. Customarily at least two form rollers are utilized, one at each side of a vertical plane containing the axis of the form cylinder. It is conventional to employ four form rollers, two at each side of such plane. For purposes of explanation and illustration my invention will be described as embodied in a printing press employing four form rollers, two at each side of a vertical plane containing the axis of the form cylinder.

Printing presses are provided with means for retracting the form rollers to positions out of contact with the form on a non-printing cycle, for example, when a sheet is not properly fed to or registered in the printing couple and the press trips, i.e., relatively disposes the elements of the printing couple so that they remain out of contact with each other during such cycle. The form rollers should be retracted while they are opposite the gap between the trailing and leading edges of the printing form to avoid inking a part only of the form on the non-printing cycle and also to avoid forming lines on the form where the form rollers are retracted therefrom or returned to contact therewith. In other words, the form rollers should contact and roll over the entire form or none of it.

in some presses the distance between form rollers at opposite sides of the press is greater than the width of the gap so it is obviously impossible to retract all of the form rollers simultaneously while opposite the gap. This has heretofore imposed undesirable limitations in press design, necessitating either undesirably crowding the form rollers together or providingan undesirably wide gap or retracting the form rollers when at least one of them is not opposite the gap but in contact with the printing form.

I provide a printing press in which the above described problem is solved in a new way whereby all of the form rollers are retracted and returned to normal position when opposite the gap without the necessity of crowd-- ing the form rollers together or providing an undesirably wide gap. I provide for sequentiallyretracting the form rollers when opposite the gap and sequentially returning the form rollers to normal position when opposite the gap.

i provide a printing press comprising a rotary form having a gap therein, form rollers for applying ink to the form, the space between form rollers being greater than the width of the gap so that on a non-printing cycle when the form rollers are to be retracted from the form all form rollers cannot while opposite the gap be simultaneously retracted, and means for sequentially retracting the form rollers on a non-printing cycle, each form roller while opposite the gap. Said means preferably also sequentially return the form rollers to normal position, each form roller while opposite the gap. Said means are preferably designed to sequentially return the form rollers to normal postion, each form roller while opposite the gap, in the same sequence as the sequence of retracting the form rollers.

I preferably provide cam means for retracting the form rollers together with means for actuating the cam means to sequentially retract the form rollers on a non-printing cycle, each form roller while opposite the gap. I desirably employ a cam shaft and means for turning the cam shaft in one direction on a non-printing cycle and thereafter in the opposite direction for a succeeding printing cycle together with cam means on the cam shaft sequentially retracting the form rollers, each form roller while opposite the gap, upon turning of the cam shaft in the first mentioned direction. The cam means also preferably sequentially return the form rollers to normal position, each form roller while opposite the gap, upon turning of the cam shaft in the second mentioned direction. Such return of the form rollers to normal postion is preferably in the same sequence as the sequence of retracting the form rollers.

I preferably provide two cams on the cam shaft with connections from one of the cams to one of the form rollers and connections from the other cam to the other .form roller, the cams being constructed and arranged so that when the cam shaft turns in one direction on a nonprinting cycle the form rollers are sequentially retracted, each form roller while opposite the gap, and when the cam shaft turns in the opposite direction for a succeeding printing cycle the form rollers are sequentially returned to normal postion, each form roller While opposite the gap.

In a preferred structure I provide a first cam fixed to the cam shaft, connections from the first cam to one of the form rollers retracting that form roller while opposite the gap upon a first turning increment of the cam shaft and the first cam fixed thereto, a second cam turnably mounted on the cam shaft, connections from the second cam to the other form roller retracting that form roller while opposite the gap upon turning of the second cam and means for turning the second cam with the cam shaft during a second increment of the turning movement of the cam shaft to retract the second mentioned form roller while opposite the gap. The first cam preferably has a dwell portion maintaining the first mentioned form roller retracted while the second mentioned form roller is being retracted. The cams preferably have cooperating portions constructed and arranged so that subsequent to the first turning increment of the cam shaft and the first cam fixed thereto said portion of the first cam engages said portion of the second cam whereby the second cam is caused to turn with the cam shaft and the first cam during a second increment of turning movement of the cam shaft and the first cam to retract the second mentioned form roller while opposite the gap. Stop means are preferably provided stopping turning of the second cam when the second mentioned form roller has been retracted.

In an optimum form my printing press comprises a rotary form having a gap therein and an inker having a form roller at each side thereof for applying ink to the form, the space between such form rollers being greater than the width of the gap so that on a non-printing cycle when the form rollers are to be retracted from the form both form rollers cannot while opposite the gap be simultaneously retracted, a cam shaft, means for turning the cam shaft in one direction on a non-printing cycle and thereafter in the opposite direction for a succeeding printing cycle, a first cam fixed to the cam shaft, connections from the first cam to one of the form rollers retracting that form roller while opposite the gap upon a first turning increment of the cam shaft and the first cam fixed thereto in the first mentioned direction, a second cam turnably mounted on the cam shaft and connections from the second cam to the other form roller retracting that form roller while opposite the gap upon turning of the second cam in the first mentioned direction, the cams having cooperating first portions constructed and arranged so that subsequent to the first turning increment of the cam shaft and the first cam fixed thereto in the first mentioned direction said first portion of the first cam engages said first portion of the second cam whereby the second cam is caused to turn with the cam shaft and the first cam during a second increment of turning movement of the cam shaft and the first cam in the first mentioned direction to retract the second mentioned form roller while opposite the gap, the first mentioned form roller while opposite the gap being returned to normal position upon a first turning increment of the cam shaft and the first cam fixed thereto in the second mentioned direction, the cams having cooperating second portion-s constructed and arranged so that subsequent to the first turning increment of the cam shaft and the first cam fixed thereto in the second mentioned direction said second portion of the first cam engages said second portion of the second cam whereby the second cam is caused to turn with the cam shaft and the first cam during a second increment of turning movement of the cam shaft and the first cam in the second mentioned direction to return the second mentioned form roller while opposite the gap to normal position. I preferably provide stop means stopping turning of the second cam when the second mentioned form roller has been retracted and stopping turning of the second cam when the second mentioned form roller has been returned to normal position.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention in which FIGURE 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical cross section at the central portion of the printing press normal to the axis of the form cylinder looking in the direction from the operators side toward the gear side of the press and showing the means for retracting and returning to normal position the form rollers;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary elevational view from the operators side of the press and partly in vertical cross section showing the portion of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 1 and the connections between the means for retracting and returning to normal position the form rollers and the press drive;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are isometric views of cams forming part of the means for retracting and returning to normal position the form rollers; and

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 are diagrammatic views of the 4% cams and associated elements in progressive operative positions as explained in the specification, these figures being views, like FIGURE 1, looking in the direction from the operators side toward the gear side of the press.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the printing press and inker may be conventional except for the means for retracting the form rollers away from the form and returning them to their normal position. Hence I shall show and describe only those portions of the press necessary to an understanding of my invention.

I have indicated a form cylinder at 2, the cylinder having a printing form 3 applied to its cylindrical surface with the leading and trailing ends of the printing form 3 clamped to the form cylinder 2 at 4 and 5, respectively. In FIGURE 1 the form cylinder turns in the counterclockwise direction. Between the trailing edge 5 and the leading edge 4 of the form is the gap of the form cylinder designated by reference numeral 6. The form cylinder, the form, the means for rotating the form cylinder, the cooperating element of the printing couple and the press and inker structure in general may all be conventional. Conventional means are provided for tripping the press on a non-printing cycle so that during such cycle the elements of the printing couple are maintained out of contact with each other as well known to those skilled in the art. Also upon a non-printing cycle the form rollers which directly apply the ink to the form are retracted as above explained.

In the form of structure shown in the drawings there are four form rollers designated respectively A, B, C and D. The lines of contact of the form rollers A and B with the form 3 are to the right of a. vertical plane containing the axis of the form cylinder 2 viewing FIGURE 1 and the lines of contact of the form rollers C and D with the form 3 are to the left of such plane. The distance between the form rollers A and D and particularly the distance between the lines of contact of those form rollers and the form 3 is, as shown, greater than the width of the gap 6.

I provide for sequentially retracting the form rollers on a non-printing cycle, each form roller while opposite the gap. As the form cylinder 2 turns in the counterclockwise direction viewing FIGURE 1 I first retract the form rollers A and B while they are opposite the gap 6 and thereafter when the gap 6 has moved to a position opposite the form rollers C and D I retract the form rollers C and D. For a succeeding printing cycle I successively return the form rollers to their normal positions, each form roller while opposite the gap. As the gap comes around to a position opposite the form rollers A and B I return those form rollers to their normal position. Then the gap advances to a position opposite the form rollers C and D I return those form rollers to their normal or operative position. Thus all of the form rollers are retracted and returned to normal position when opposite the gap.

The form rollers A and B are carried by opposed slides 7, one at each end of the form rollers A and B, and the form rollers C and D are carried by opposed slides 8, one at each end of the form rollers C and D. Each of the slides is guided for movement radially of the form cylinder 2, the guiding means for each slide 7 being shown at 9, l0 and 11 and the guiding means for each slide 8 being shown at 12, 13 and 14. Each of the slides 7 and 8 is resiliently urged toward the axis of the form cylinder 2. The means for resiliently urging the slides toward the form cylinder may be conventional and are not shown. Everything thus far described with reference to the drawings except the means for retracting the form rollers and returning them to normal position may be conventional.

In FIGURE 2 there is shown the upper end of a link 16 which extends to a portion of the press and is connected therewith as well known to those skilled in the art so that when the press trips on a non-printing cycle the link 16 moves upwardly. As well known to those skilled in the art, the press always trips at the same point in the cycle. When the press goes down on impression the link 16 moves downwardly. I provide a transverse shaft 17 to which are fastened at different points along the shaft arms 18 and 19 respectively. The upper end of the link 16 is pivotally connection to the arm 18 at El Pivoted to the arm 19 at 51 is an arm 52 which has a generally downwardly extending portion 53. A tension coil spring 54 is biased between the portion 53 of the arm 52 and a pin 55 forming part of the arm 19 and projecting there from as shown in FIGURE 2. The effect of the spring 55 is to urge the arm 52 to turn in the counterclockwise direction about the pivotal connection 51 between the arm 19 and the arm 52.

The arm 52 is formed with spaced jaws 5% as shown in FIGURE 2 which embrace a pin 57 projecting axially from a disc 58 fastened to a cam shaft 15 whose axis is parallel to the axis or" the form cylinder 2.

When the link 16 moves upwardly upon tripping of the press on a non-printing cycle the arm 52 is moved upwardly and toward the right to the position shown in FIGURE 2. The arm is maintained with the jaws 56 embracing the pin 57 by the spring 54. Movement of the arm 52- upwardly and toward the right viewing FIG- UB5 2 causing turning of the cam shaft 15 in the counterclockwise direction viewing that figure. The extent of turning of the cam shaft in the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings is about 120". When the link it; moves downwardly for a printing cycle the arm 52 moves downwardly and toward the left viewing FIG- URE 2 and the cam shaft 15 turns back in the clockwise direction through an angle of about 120 to its initial position.

On occasion it may be desired to turn the cam shaft 15 by hand, in which case a handle is applied to the end of the cam shaft 15 and the shaft is turned in either direction as desired by manipulation of the handle. The handle when first applied is freely turnable on the cam shaft until the cams now to be described become operative. The handle carries a peripheral cam 5'9 whose extremities are at 6%) and d1 respectively, facing the surface 62 of the arm 52. When the handle is turned in either direction one or the other of the ends as and d1 of the cam 59 engages the surface 62 of the arm 52, resulting in pushing of the arm 52 away from the cam shaft 15 or generally downwardly and toward the right viewing FIGURE 2 which disengages the jaws 56 of the arm 52. from the pin 57, such movement of the arm 52 and disengagement being resiliently resisted by the spring 54. By application of the handle to the cam shaft 15 it is possible to turn the cam shaft during operation of the press. If the jaws 56 of the arm 52am disengaged from the pin 57 due to manual turning of the handle and the link in moves up and down during such disengagement the surface 62 of the arm 52 will simply ride along one or the other of the ends 60 and st of the cam 59. The handle also carries a semicircular cam 63 having a flat diametral face 64. As the handle turns relatively to the cam shaft 15 in either direction the cam 59 first moves the arm 52 to disengage the jaws 56 from the pin 57 as above described; upon further turning of the handle the face 64 of the cam 63 engages the pin 57 and through such engagement turns the cam shaft 15 since the pin 57 is carried by the disc fastened to the cam shaft. Specifically, when the handle is turned clockwise vie;- ing FIGURE 2 the end 61 of the cam 59 first by engaging the surface 52 of the arm 52 moves the arm 52 generally downwardly and toward the right to disengage the jaws 56 from the pin 5'7 whereafter the face 64 of the cam 63 engages the pin 57 and turns the cam shaft 15 clockwise with the result that the form rollers move into engagement with the form through the operation of means presently to be described. Should the form rollers be in engagement with the form and the handle be turned counterclockwise viewing FIGURE 2 the end 6% of the cam 59 first by engaging the surface 62 of the arm 52 moves the arm 52 generally downwardly and toward the right to disengage the jaws 56 from the pin 57 whereafter the face 64 of the cam 63 engages the pin 57 and turns the cam shaft 15 counterclockwise, moving the form rollers out of engagement with the form through the operation of means presently to be described. The cam 5% has the further function that when it is in its extreme counterclockwise position viewing FIGURE 2 the jaws 5-6 cannot become engaged with the pin 57; thus the form rollers are prevented from being moved into engage ment with the form automatically.

Keyed to the cam shaft 15 by a key 20 is a cam 21 having a cam element 22 consisting of a cam portion 23 of gradually increasing height from the point 24 to the point 25 and a cam portion 26 which is a dwell portion of uniform height from the point 25 to the point 27. Disposed opposite the cam 21 is a follower roller 23 rotatably mounted in an arm 2? rotatably mounted on a shaft Eli and fixed to or integral with an arm 31 in engagement with a cooperating portion 32 of the slide 7. When the portion 23 of the cam element 22 moves opposite the roller 23 the arm 29 is turned about the axis of the shaft 34 and the arm El, turning with the arm 29 and acting against the portion 32 of the slide '7, retracts the form rollers A and B upwardly and toward the right viewing FIGURE 1 out of cooperative relationship with respect to the form 3, the parts being timed so that such retraction occurs when the form rollers A and B are opposite the gap s. The cam portion 26 does not further retract the form rollers A and B but maintains them retracted while it moves opposite the roller 23.

A second cam 33 is turnably mounted on the cam shaft 15. The cam 33 has a cam element 34 of gradually increasing height from the point 35 to the point as. Disposed opposite the cam 33 is a follower roller 37 rotatably mounted in an arm 33 rotatably mounted on a shaft 39 and fixed to or integral with an arm as in engagement with a cooperating portion 4.]. of the slide 8. When the cam element 34 moves opposite the roller 37 the arm 38 is turned about the axis of the shaft 39 and the arm 4t), turning with the arm 3% and acting against the portion 41 of the slide 8, retracts the form rollers C and D upwardly and toward the left viewing FEGURE 1 out of cooperative relationship with respect to the form 3, the parts being, as above stated, timed so that such retraction occurs when the form rollers C and D are opposite the gap 6.

The cam 21 has a projecting portion 42 which projects generally axially of the cam shaft 15 toward the cam 33, and the cam 33 has a projecting portion 43 which projects generally axially of the cam shaft 15 toward the cam 21. The portion 42 of the cam 21 has at one end a shoulder 4 and at the other end a shoulder 45. The portion 4-3 of the cam 33 has at one end a shoulder 46 and at the other end a shoulder 47. The angular extent of the portion 42 between the shoulders 44 and 45 is about 180 while the angular extent of the portion 43 between the shoulders 46 and 47 is about The cam 33 has stop members 42% and 49 adapted to engage the roller 37 to limit turning of the cam 33 in the counterclockwise and clockwise directions respectively.

When the form rollers A, B, C and D are all in their normal or operative positions as shown in FIGURE 1 and the press trips, initiating anon-printing cycle, as the gap approaches the form rollers A and B the cam shaft 15 turns in the counterclockwise direction viewing FlGURE 5 until the leading end 24 of the cam element 22 moves from the position shown in FIGURE 5 until it is directly opposite the roller 2%. During such movement of the cam shaft 15 and the cam 27. the cam 33 does not move although the shoulder 44 is approaching the shoulder 46. When the leading end 24- of the cam element 22 is directly opposite the roller 23 the shoulder 44 has advanced half way to the shoulder id from the position of FIG- URE 5. When the leading end 24 of the cam element 22 is directly opposite the roller 28 the form rollers A and B are opposite the gap.

As the cam shaft 15 and the cam 21 continue rotation in the counterclockwise direction viewing FIGURE the portion 23 of the cam element 22 retracts the form rollers A and B. Upon retraction of those form rollers the shoulder 44 reaches the shoulder 46 and thereafter the cam 21 pushes the cam 33 ahead of it from the position of FIGURE 6 to the position of FIGURE 7. At that time the form rollers C and D are opposite the gap and those form rollers are retracted by the cam element 34. The dwell portion 26 of the cam element 22 maintains the form rollers A and B retracted while the cam element 34 is retracting the form rollers C and D.

FIGURE 7 shows the cams in the position they occupy when all of the form rollers A, B, C and D are retracted. The stop member 48 of the cam 33 is against the roller 37 at which time the high point 36 of the cam element 34 is opposite the roller 37. The stop member 4-3 also serves to stop the shaft 15 since the cam 33 is positively stopped thereby and the cam 21 is likewise positively stopped since the shoulder 44 is against the shoulder 46. At this time the end 27 of the dwell portion 26 of the cam element 22 is opposite the roller 28.

As the cam shaft 15 turns in the clockwise direction viewing FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 at the end of the non-printing cycle and in preparation for a succeeding printing cycle the cam 33 initially remains stationary, holding the form rollers C and D retracted, and the cam 21, which is keyed to the cam shaft 15, turns in the clockwise direction, first the dwell portion 26 and then the tapered portion 23 of the cam element 22 moving opposite the roller 28 so that by the time the shoulder 45 reaches the position of the shoulder 47 in FIGURE 7 the form rollers A and B have been returned to their normal position; this occurs while they are opposite the gap. Continued movement of the cam shaft 15 and the cam 21 in the clockwise direction moves the cams to the position of FIG- URE 5, the roller 37 riding down the cam element 34 and returning the form rollers C and D to their normal position. The form rollers C and D are opposite the gap when they are thus returned to their normal position. At that time the stop member 49 is against the roller 37, limiting turning of the cams and the cam shaft 15 in the clockwise direction.

Thus by a comparatively simple mechanism I provide for sequentially retracting the form rollers on a nonprinting cycle and sequentially returning the form rollers to normal position for a succeeding printing cycle, each form roller being opposite the gap when it is retracted and when it is returned to normal position. This leaves the press designer free to spread the form rollers apart to any desired extent and likewise substantially close up the gap, providing for maximum usable form area, while insuring against inking of part only of the form or forming lines on the form where the form rollers are retracted out of contact with the form or returned to normal position.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise various embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A printing press comprising a rotary form having a gap therein, form rollers for applying ink to the form, the space between form rollers being greater than the width of the gap so that on a non-printing cycle when the form rollers are to be retracted from the form all form rollers cannot while opposite the gap be simultaneously retracted, a cam shaft, means for turning the cam shaft in one direction on a non-printing cycle and thereafter in the opposite direction for a succeeding printing cycle and cam means on the cam shaft sequentially retracting the form rollers, each form roller while opposite g; the gap, upon turning of the cam shaft in the first mentioned direction.

2. A printing press comprising a rotary form having a gap therein, form rollers for applying ink to the form, the space between form rollers being greater than the width of the gap so that on a non-printing cycle when the form rollers are to be retracted from the form all form rollers cannot while opposite the gap be simultaneously retracted, a cam shaft, means for turning the cam shaft in one direction on a non-printing cycle and thereafter in the opposite direction for a succeeding printing cycle and cam means on the cam shaft sequentially retracting the form rollers, each form roller while opposite the gap, upon turning of the cam shaft in the first mentioned direction, and sequentially returning the form rollers to normal position, each form roller while opposite the gap, upon turning of the cam shaft in the second mentioned direction.

3. A printing press comprising a rotary form having a gap therein, form rollers for applying ink to the form, the space between form rollers being greater than the width of the gap so that on a non-printing cycle when the form rollers are to be retracted from the form all form rollers cannot while opposite the gap be simultaneously retracted, a cam shaft, means for turning the cam shaft in one direction on a non-printing cycle and thereafter in the opposite direction for a succeeding printing cycle and cam means on the cam shaft sequentially retracting the: form rollers, each form roller while opposite the gap, upon turning of the cam shaft in the first mentioned direction, and sequentially returning the form rollers to normal position, each form roller while opposite the gap, in the same sequence as the sequence of retracting the form rollers, upon turning of the cam shaft in the second mentioned direction.

4. A printing press comprising a rotary form having a gap therein and an inker having a form roller at each side thereof for applying ink to the form, the space between such form rollers being greater than the Width of the gap so that on a non-printing cycle when the form rollers are to be retracted from the form both form rollers cannot while opposite the gap be simultaneously retracted, a cam shaft, means for turning the cam shaft in one direction on a non-printing cycle and thereafter in the opposite direction for a succeeding printing cycle, two cams on the cam shaft, connections from one of the cams to one of the form rollers, connections from the other cam to the other form roller, the cams being constructed and arranged so that when the cam shaft turns in one direction on a non-printing cycle the form rollers are sequentially retracted, each form roller While opposite the gap, and when the cam shaft turns in the opposite direction for a succeeding printing cycle the form rollers are sequentially returned to normal position, each form roller while opposite the gap.

5. A printing press comprising a rotary form having a gap therein and an inker having a form roller at each side thereof for applying ink to the form, the space between such form rollers being greater than the width of the gap so that on a non-printing cycle when the form rollers are to be retracted from the form both form rollers cannot while opposite the gap be simultaneously retracted, a cam shaft, means for turning the cam shaft in one direction on a non-printing cycle and thereafter in the opposite direction for a succeeding printing cycle, a first cam fixed to the cam shaft, connections from the first cam to one of the form rollers retracting that form roller while opposite the gap upon a first turning increment of the cam shaft and the first cam fixed thereto, a second cam turnably mounted on the cam shaft, connections from the second cam to the other form roller retracting that form roller while opposite the gap upon turning of the second cam and means for turning the second cam with the cam shaft during a second increment of turning movement of the cam '9 shaft to retract the second mentioned form roller while opposite the gap.

6. A printing press comprising a rotary form having a gap therein and an inker having a form roller at each side thereof for-applying ink to the form, the space between such form rollers being greater than the width of the gap so that on a non-printing cycle when the form rollers are to be retracted from the form both form rollers cannot while opposite the gap be simultaneously retracted, a cam shaft, means for turning the cam shaft in one direction on a non-printing cycle and thereafter in the opposite direction for a succeeding printing cycle, a first cam fixed to the cam shaft, connections from the first cam toone of the form rollers retracting that form roller while opposite the gap upon a first turning increment of the cam shaft and the first cam fixed thereto, a second cam turnably mounted on the cam shaft, connections from the second cam to the other form roller retracting that form roller while opposite the gap upon turning of the second cam and means for turning the second cam with the cam shaft during a second increment of turning movement of the cam shaft to retract the second mentioned form roller while opposite the gap, the first cam having a dwell portion maintaining the first mentioned form roller retracted while the second mentioned form roller is being retracted.

7. A printing press comprising a rotary form having a gap therein and an inlter having a form roller at each side thereof for applying ink to the form, the space between such form rollers being greater than the width of the gap so that on a non-printing cycle when the form rollers are to be retracted from the form both form rollers cannot while opposite the gap be simultaneously retracted, a cam shaft, means for turning the cam shaft in one direction on a non-printing cycle and thereafter in the opposite direction for a succeeding printing cycle, a first cam fixed to the cam shaft, connections from the first cam to one of the form rollers retracting that form roller While opposite the gap upon a first turning increment of the cam shaft and the first cam fixed thereto, a second cam turnably mounted on the cam shaft and connections from the second cam to the other form roller retracting that form roller while opposite the gap upon turning of the second cam, the cams having cooperating portions constructed and arranged so that subsequent to the first turning increment of the cam shaft and the first cam fixed thereto said portion of the first cam engages said portion of the second cam whereby the second cam is caused to turn -with the cam shaft and the first cam during a second increment of turning movement of the cam shaft and the first cam to retract the second mentioned form roller while opposite the gap.

8. A printing press comprising a rotary form having a gap therein and an inker having a form roller at each side thereof for applying ink to the form, the space between such form rollers being greater than the width of the gap so that on a non-printing cycle when the form rollers are to be retracted from the form both form rollers cannot while opposite the gap be simultaneousl retracted, a cam shaft, means for turning the cam shaft in one direction on a non-printing cycle and thereafter in the opposite direction for a succeeding printing cycle, a first cam fixed to the cam shaft, connections from the first cam to one of the form rollers retracting that form roller while opposite the gap upon a first turning increment of the cam shaft and the first cam fixed thereto, a second cam turnably mounted on the cam shaft, connections from the second cam to the other form roller retracting that form roller while opposite the gap upon turning of the second cam, means for turning the second cam with the cam shaft during a second increment of turning movement of the cam shaft to retract the second mentioned form roller while opposite the gap and stop means stopping turning of the second cam when the second mentioned form roller has been retracted.

9. A printing press comprising a rotary form having a gap therein and an inker having a form roller at each side thereof for applying ink to the form, the space between such form rollers being greater than the width of the gap so that on a non-printing cycle when the form rollers are to be retracted from the form both form rollers cannot while opposite the gap be simultaneously retracted, a cam shaft, means for turning the cam shaft in one direction on a non-printing cycle and thereafter in the opposite direction for a succeeding printing cycle, a first cam fixed to the cam shaft, connections from the first cam to one of the form rollers retracting that form roller while opposite the gap upon a first turning increment of the cam shaft and the first cam fixed thereto in the first mentioned direction, a second cam turna'oly mounted on the cam shaft and connections from the second cam to the other form roller retracting that form roller while opposite the gap upon turning of the second cam in the first mentioned direction, the cams having cooperating first portions constructed and arran ed so that subsequent to the first turning increment of the cam shaft and the first cam fixed thereto in the first mentioned direction said first portion of the first cam engages said first portions of the second cam whereby the second cam is caused to turn with the cam shaft and the first cam during a second increment of turning movement of the cam shaft and the first cam in the first mentioned direction to retract the second mentioned form roller while opposite the gap, the first mentioned form roller while opposite the gap being returned to normal position upon a first turning increment of the cam shaft and the first cam fixed thereto in the second mentioned direction, the cams having cooperating second portions constructed and arranged so that subsequent to the first turning increment of the cam shaft and the first cam fixed thereto in the second mentioned direction said second portion of the first cam engages said second portion of the second cam whereby the second cam is caused to turn with the cam shaft and the first cam during a second increment of turning movement of the cam shaft and the first cam in the second mentioned direction to return the second mentioned form roller while opposite the gap to normal position.

It). A printing press comprising a rotary form having a gap therein and an inker having a form roller at each side thereof for applying ink to the form, the space between such form rollers being greater than the width of the gap so that on a non-printing cycle when the form rollers are to be retracted from the form both form rollers cannot while opposite the gap be simultaneously retracted, a cam shaft, means for turning the cam shaft in one direction on a non-printing cycle and thereafter in the opposite direction for a succeeding printing cycle, a first cam fixed to the cam shaft, connections from the first cam to one of the form rollers retracting that form roller while opposite the gap upon a first turning increment of the cam shaft and the first cam fixed thereto in the first mentioned direction, a second cam turnably mounted on the cam shaft, connections from the second cam to the other form roller retracting that form roller while opposite the gap upon turning of the second cam in the first mentioned direction, the cams having cooperating first portions constructed and arranged so that subsequent to the first turning increment of the cam shaft and the first cam fixed thereto in the first mentioned direction said first portion of the first cam engages said first portion of the second cam whereby the second cam is caused to turn with the cam shaft and the first cam during a second increment of turning movement of the cam shaft and the first cam in the first mentioned direction to retract the second mentioned form roller while opposite the gap, stop means stopping turning of the second cam when the second mentioned form roller has been retracted, the first mentioned form roller while opposite the gap being returned to normal position upon a firstturning increment of the cam shaft and the first cam fixed thereto in the second mentioned direction, the

T. "1 cams having cooperating second portions constructed and arranged so that subsequent to the first turning increment of the cam shaft and the first cam fixed thereto in the second mentioned direction said second portion of the first cam engages said second portion of the second cam Whereby the second cam is caused to turn with the cam shaft and the first cam during a second increment of turning movement of the cam shaft and the first cam in the second mentioned direction to return the second menposition, and stop means stopping turning of the second cam when the second mentioned form roller has been returned to normal position.

References Cited in the file of this patent tioned form roller while opposite the gap to normal 10 2,875,692

UNITED STATES PATENTS Davidson Dec. 22, 1942 Peyrebrune Apr. 21, 1953 Peyrebrune Sept. 29, 1953 Koch Mar. 3, 1959 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N00 3 157 118 November l7 1964 Robert L. Mosemiller It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent req'liring correction and that the said Letters Patentshould read as corrected below.

Column 4, line 51, for "Then read When column 5 line for "causin read causes ""a si ned and sealed this 30th day of March 1965a SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents 

1. A PRINTING PRESS COMPRISING A ROTARY FORM HAVING A GAP THEREIN, FORM ROLLERS FOR APPLYING INK TO THE FORM, THE SPACE BETWEEN FORM ROLLERS BEING GREATER THAN THE WIDTH OF THE GAP SO THAT ON A NON-PRINTING CYCLE WHEN THE FORM ROLLERS ARE TO BE RETRACTED FROM THE FORM ALL FORM ROLLERS CANNOT WHILE OPPOSITE THE GAP BE SIMULTANEOUSLY RETRACTED, A CAM SHAFT, MEANS FOR TURNING THE CAM SHAFT IN ONE DIRECTION ON A NON-PRINTING CYCLE AND THEREAFTER IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION FOR A SUCCEEDING PRINTING CYCLE AND CAM MEANS ON THE CAM SHAFT SEQUENTIALLY RETRACTING THE FORM ROLLERS, EACH FORM ROLLER WHILE OPPOSITE THE GAP, UPON TURNING OF THE CAM SHAFT IN THE FIRST MENTIONED DIRECTION. 